davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1887-01-01

So much has been written about Cali.
fornia, and yet SO little is known, that we
have undertaken the task of furnishing our
Eastern readers with brief description OF
the topography, climate and productions Of
Central and Northern California. This
would seem an easy task, and really would
be of a Middle or Eastern State, but when
it Is taken into consideration that Cali
fornia, an empire within itself-an extent
of country almost equal in size to the
Atlantic seaboard-is but sparsely settled,
its resources many of them not yet known,
others only partially developed, the task is
not so easy as would appear at glance.
Central and Northern California embrace
an area larger by 5000 square miles than
that of the States of Vermont, New Hamp-
shire, Massachusetts,, Connecticut, Rhode
Island, New Jersey, Delaware and Mary
land. Or, to further illustrate the extent
of this Western Empire bordering upon
the Pacific, the fact may be stated that the
States of Connecticut, New Jersey and
Delaware could be set down within the
Sacramento valley without interfering in
the least with the fruitful foothills upon its
sides, and just about cover its immense
golden wheat fields, which furnish bread
for the countries of the world, and which
will, at no distant day, also furnish fruits
for all lands and peoples.
The descriptions of soils. the topography
of the country, and other facts subioined,
are collected from the most reliable and
trustworthy sources, and can be accepted
as correct in every particular.
Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1887-01-01
LASSEN COUNTY.

Profitable tock-raising-Wealth of Flow
ers-Msgnificent Seer ery-Etc.
Lassen county has a population of 3,340,
according to the last census, and an area of
5000 square miles. 1t embraces a region
of rugged mountains, arid and sandy sage
brush plains, vast areas of alkali flats and
clusters of broken hills, with narrow val
legs, and lies on the north and east of the
Sierra Nevada Mountains, which trend
northwest The Diamond Mountain range,
5000 feet high, and covered with spruce
pine and fir, separated from Plumas county
on the south. The other mountains of the
county trend in various directions, and
have only few scattered groves of scrubby
pitch pine, or ''pinon," and dwarf cedar.
The only streams of Importance are Susan
river, in the south, and Pit river, which
crosses the northwestern part of the county
the former, with several tributaries, flow
ing eastward into Honey Lake, while the
latter is one of the
PRINCIPAL TRIBUTARIES OF THE sAcRA-
MENTo.
The rest of the county is almost entirely
without streams, and includes what is
termed the Madaline plains, $500 feet
aDOF6 Tie Stdi N1ltCA 10 SOftAO0 NAtAi oehk5O
brush.
There are several lakes in the southern
part of the county, covering an area from
IL to 10 miles long and from TO 10 miles
wide. Comparatively little of the county
surface is suitable for cultivation. the chief
bodies of arabic land being found in Honey
Lake valley and in Long valley, further
south. On the west side of Honey Lake is
a strip of rich, sandy-loam soil, about two
miles in width and largely under cultiya-
ton, yielding from % TO 80 bushels OF
wheat per acre, with irrigation, which is
! found to be very necessary. The elevation
of the valley is about 1900 feet. The land
on the streams is a dark loan, and is
I mostly covered with plums, poplars and
willows Long valley is very narrow, but
forty miles in length, its average
breadth is from two to three miles. The
principal business is stock-raising and
dairying. Between Big and Honey Lake
valleys lie Grasshopper, Willow Creek,
Eagle Lake and Horse Lake valleys, sepa-
rated from each other and the main valleys
by intervening ridges of various nights.
Each of the last-named valleys are small,
contain few farms, and are mostly occu-
pied by the bodies of water from which
they derive their name. Big valley, in the
northwestern part of the county, contains
Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1887-01-01
CALAYERAS COUNTY.
Its Resources, Climate and Geographical
Position.

I
Position.
Calaveras county is bordered on the
north and south respectively by the Nickel
umne and Stanislaus rivers, which, rising
not far from each other in the Sierras, rap
idly diverge as they flow southwestwardly
and give to the county a triangular shape
These two rivers, with Calayeras river,
which rises near the center of the county
and flows westward, are the principal
streams of this section, and have numerous
small tributaries. The surface of the county
is billy and broken throughout, the west
ern boundary resting among the lower foot
hills near the great valley. The gen.
eral level rises rapidly to the summit OF
the high Sierra on the east.
The county has a population of 10000
and an area of $50 square miles, divided as
follows Lower foothills, 500 square miles
higher foothills, $50 square miles. Of this
vast area less than $4,000 acres are TILED,
Notwithstanding that the
SOIL IS CHEAP, FERTILE, UNUSUALLY PRO-
DUCTIvE,
Grows as fine fruit as is to be found in the
market, and its oranges, which grow luXu-
riantly and to perfe c.ion, took the first pre-
MUM at The Citrus Fair at Sacramento in
1885.
Bear mountain, a rocky, wooded range, a
little more than 1000 feet high, strikes
northerly across the middle of the county,
from the Stanisla1s to the Calaveras river.
dividing this central portion into two sec
tons, the lower composed of abrupt foot
hills, that gradually subside into low, roll
ing prairies as they stretch west toward the
Cav, ri, 4lo
grows more rugged and broken as it ex-
tends eastward into the main Sierras. The
upper and sleeper slopes OF the foothills are
COVERED WITH SCATTERED GROVES OF OAK.
Interspersed with an inferior species of
Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1887-01-01

values, measured by the usefulness of
tracts for cattle ranges, are now valued as
spots for the home-seeker, who will con-
tribute both to production and consump-
ton and social strength and culture. Lands
for fruit, wine or grain in Colusa rate very
low, compared to the extravagant demands
made in other sections for less useful soil
and soil by no means so well conditioned
by nature or capable of such wonderful
production. While there is such certainty
of rainfall that there can never be total
failure of crops in Colusa, yet much atten-
ton has been, and is being, given to
schemes for irrigation of lands that under
that system, will produce almost magically
THE CLIMATE
Is warmer than that of Sacramento in
summer, and in winter is about the same
temperature The air is dry, pure and
h-giving. The rainfall at Colusa for
the following seasons will give an idea of
it for any other series of years Season of
1SS0-S1, 16 90 inches; 1SS1-S2, 22.62 inches !;
1882 So 1166 inches; 1SS3-S4, 10 inches;
ISS4-85, I169; 1856 to March 1st, II %
The average annual mean temperature is
about $50.
1t is hardly necessary to say that citrus
fruits in all variety grow in Colusa album
dainty, and that for fruit of all kinds it is
an especially favorably located portion of
the great fruit-producing regions of the
State.
Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1887-01-01
BUTTE COUNTY.
The Home of the orange-Agricultur
and Mineral Resources.

The Home of the orange-Agricultura
and Mineral Resources.
Butte county lies in the very center of
the great Sacramento valley, and is bounded
on the north by Tehama and Plumas, on
the east by PIumas, on the south by Yuba
and Suffer, and on the west by Colusa and
Tehama. 1t has an area of 1920 square miles
and population of more than 2O,s00. It's
lands may be classified as follows Sacra-
mento valley, 595 square miles; lower foot
hills, eos square miles; higher foothills,
100 square miles.
Butte county is separated, in part, from
Colusa on the west by the Sacramento
river and Butte creek, which receive the
drainage from the western half OF the
county. The Feather and its tributaries
drain the eastern side. The surface Of the
county thus has the general appearance of
two successive plains. both sloping west
ward the one on the east, or the foothills,
is broken and rolling, and has the Feather
river at its foot; the second, or the plains
proper. rises rather abruptly from this
river and slopes gradually and with more
even surface TO the Sacramento river, Oh
the west. A large part of the latter plain,
forming a belt from u to 20 miles wide
along the Sacramento river and through
the county, is quite level, and is embraced
in the great valley region. 1t IS the CHIEF
farming portion of the county. Its surface
is treeless, and its lands vary from the
RICH SANDY LOAN OF THE RIVERS
To the stiff black and gray adobe, which
Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1887-01-01
MODOC COUNTY.
The Extreme Northeastern Corner of the
State.

The Extreme Northeastern Corner of the
State.
Modoc has an area of 1860 square miles,
and population according to the last CEN
sus of 1890 Its lands are divided as fol-
lows; Sierra mountain lands, $685. square
miles; Surprise valley, 400 square miles
other valleys, It's square miles.
This county lies in the extreme north
eastern corner of the State, has noun
famous and broken surface drained chiefly
by Pit river, which flows southwestward
through the county from Goose lake, on the
northern border. The tributaries of this
river are chiefly on the south and east, the
northwestern part of the county having no
drainage system. The only lands suitable
for cultivation are embraced in a few of
the valleys in the eastern and southern
parts of the county, and OF these Surprise
valley is the most important. This valley,
lying on the extreme east, extends from
north to south, and includes in its eastern
side
THREE LARGE LAKES,
Whose lengths are respectively 16, 20 and
10 miles, with widths from three to five
miles. These lakes have no outlets, and
are sometimes dry from evaporation. The.
length of the valley is about 60 miles, and
width Is miles. 1t is skirted on two sides
by lofty and timbered mountains 1t is
watered by numerous streams, and is COW
cred with clover and grasses Its soil is
rich black loan, occupying strip from
two to six miles in width, whose surface
gently slopes toward the lakes The valley
is settled up in neighborhoods and is
partly under cultivation, wheat, barley,
and vegetables being the chief crops.
Dairying stock-raising and numbering are
also carried on to considerable extent.
THE VALLEY OF GOOSE LAKE
Lies mostly on the eastern side of the lake
(which is 80 miles long and 10 miles wide,
extending into the State Of Oregon, reach
ing back some four or five miles, and is
watered by numerous small streams. Its
lands are good for farming purposes, being
covered with bunch and other grasses, and
are partly under cultivation, yielding crops
of wheat, barley, oats, etc The adjoining
mountains, Warmers Range, are heavily
timbered with cedar and pine, while on the
hillsides, and around the lake, is an album
dant growth Of wild plums. On the western
side of the lake there is narrow strip of
valley, devoted mostly to dairying.
BIG Oh ROUND VALLEY,
On Pit river, in the southwestern part of
the county, and reaching into Lassen
county, is 30 miles long and IS miles wide,
and is mostly covered with sage brush. Its
soils are varied in character, from red clays
to dark loan and gravelly lands, and are
spotted with alkali tracts. Surrounding
the valley are several creeks, whose rich
bottom lands are, to some extent, under
cultivation. Stock-raising is the chief in
dustry. The lands under cultivation aver
age but AZ acres per square mile for the
county at large. The winters in Modoc
Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1887-01-01

$4,000 acres of splendid agricultural lands.
The crops comprise wheat, barley, oats, rye,
corn, etc., for which there is home mar
ket. The nearest railroad points are Reno
and Redding.
sUsANvILLE,
The county seat, is $50 miles north of Sac
ramento and has an altitude of 4,07S feet.
In this pure, light atmosphere, pulmonary
diseases are unknown. Within the county
limits can be found as many changes of
temperature as on a journey from Green
land to Florida On summers warmest
days in the valleys one can go into shaded
canyons, protected hooks, or ascend to the
ice-clad SUBMITS and experience many
changes of climate within few hours. AS
a rule, cattle, horses and sheep thrive out
of doors throughout the winter. Spring
opens the first of April and by the middle
of May the farmers have many varieties of
vegetables for table use, even including the
delicious strawberry Cherries, currants
and other berries ripen early in June.
Like Shasta, Siskiyou, Modoc and other
counties, Lassen has many attractions for
tourists and those fond of summer camp
ing, hunting and fishing. The fora is
abundant and most beautiful. "The stars
of earth " in some of the valleys in the
early spring present beds of leveliness in
variegated colors that are gorgeous to
behold.
Lassen seems to present many claims for
the establishment of an old maid " col
ony. The females now there constitute but
about one-third of the population. House
keepers, dairy-maids, etc, readily get EN-
ployment at from $50 to $40 per month,
but as a rule they are sought in marriage
by the well-to-do and lonely bachelors, who
so largely predominant. A lady CORE
spondent, writing from Lassen, says: The
female population of this county are either
wives or too young to wed. There is
plenty of room for healthy female i'm
migration. 1t is impossible to estimate the
amount of masculine sweetness that is
going to waste upon the desert air of Las
sen ~
Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1887-01-01

pine, buckeye, manzanita and other shrub
by trees. Large patches are covered wholly
with the chemisal, an evergreen shrub with
q delicate leaf which seen from altar gives
to the mountains beautifully dark, UNI
brageous appearance.
One of the greatest curiosities in Califor-
MIA consists of the Big Tree grove, situated
on the divide between the middle fork of
the Stanislaus and the Calayeras river,
about twenty miles east OF Mokelumne
Hill, and at an elevation of 1853 feet above
the level of the sea. The trees range in
hight from $50 to 327 feet, and in diameter
from 10 to 80 feet
OF WHAT ITS WEALTH CONSISTS.
Mining is the chief industry OF the
county, and comparatively little farming
is carried on. The lands under cultivation
average but little over 80 acres per square
mile for the county at large, being chiefly
embraced in the lower foothill region.
But little wheat or other grains are grown,
fruit being the almost exclusive crop, and
by the way, very profitable crop. The
soils are chiefly red foothills" similar to
those of Amador and Tuolumne counties.
Numerous canals have been dug from the
river to convey water for hydraulic mining
purposes, the two largest of these, the
|
west, connecting with the Mokelumne
river and the Murphy canal in the eastern
part of the county taking its water from
| the Stanislaus river.
Transportation facilities are afforded the
western part of the county by the San Joa-
ouin and Nevada Railroad, which extends
westward through San joaquin county,
along the south side of the Mokelumne
river to Brack's Landing, where line OF
boats connects with San Francisco; also,
by the Stockton and Copperopolis Railroad,
reaching from the southwest part OF the
county west to Stockton, and thence by
railroad or boat to San Francisco or Sacra-
mento.
The timber and grazing lands of this
county are very valuable, and settlers here
can find land which can be purchased at a
nominal figure, and well adapted to fruit
culture. In the higher portions of the
county, in addition to the famous Big
Trees the Gigantia Sequoid-are extern
| sive forest of finest pine, many OF which
are six to eight feet in diameter, and from
IT'S to 225 feet in hight. But for the pre-
sence of the more noted forest giants of the
redwood species above referred to, these
pines would be the wonder of the region.
Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1887-01-01
Ell DORADO.
A County with a History-Its Prosperity
and Varied Productions.

n
Perhaps there is no section of like ex-
tent in the United States that has history
more interesting, more diversified, more
extensively known than that of Ell Dorado
county. Twas within its borders that the
discovery of gold was made in January,
1s4S, which at once peopled our Western
shores. Its effect. like magic, was felt
throughout the civilized world, and the ad-
venturous spirits from the Eastern section
of our country flocked across the plains by
thousands. and the ships of commerce
brought hither from every cline the
muscle bone and sinew that at once made
California what she has ever since been, a
country. whose people are noted for their
thrift, perseverance, industry and indomi-
table energy.
In size FL Dorado county is almost as
large as some of the smaller New England
states. and has a soil and climate DIVERSE
fed, productive and equal 10 that of any
other section of the Union. The scenery
Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1887-01-01


compare favorably with any countysin the
State Placerville and Georgetown both
have graded schools, under the supervision
of an able corps of experienced educators.
Among the products of this county are
lime, marble copper and iron. The lime
quarries are the most valuable in the State,
and have been successfully and proftably
worked since 1858. They are located in
what is known as Cave Valley. on the
Georgetown divide, and are of unlimited
extent. The building of the narrow-gauge
road spoken of would make these quarries
worth hundreds of thousands of dollars
The marble quarries are at Indian Diggings,
in the northeastern portion of the county.
Marble from these work into beautiful
monuments, and finish with polish and
beauty equal to the finest Italian. They,
however are too distant from rail commu-
nication at present to be worked with much
profit. The slate quarries near Placeryille
are the finest in the State, and some day
will be worked at great profit.
Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1887-01-01

THE ETERNAL FIThESS OF THINGS,
The sobriquet of HaDgtown was thought to
be, and really was, quite appropriate. In
those days the laws were few in number,
easily understood, quite generally obeyed,
and readily put into execution. They were
no longer than the Commandments, were
as unalterable as those of the Medes and
Persians. and if young Goldenson, who bru.
Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1887-01-01

Most of the land in the western portion
of the county is what is termed rolling, yet
thousands of it is level, and these lands for
hay, grain or fruit. are unsurpassed In their
productions of both fruit crops and cereals
In this section floods are never known, cy-
Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1887-09-16

\ Washington despatch says Commission
crs Edgerton and Lyman of the civil SER
vice commission have reported on the alleged
abuses in the Chicago post-oilice. The in
quiry consisted mainly of an inspection Of
the books and files of the board Of examin-
ers of that office, an inquiry concerning
the methods of the board and the procur-
ing from the postmaster Of statement
showing the force and organization of the
post-oilice when Mr.. Judd became post
master and the same at the time Of the in
vestigation, and the changes in the organi-
zation and force during Mr. Judd's admin
stration. The large excess of appointments
over removals, designations, deaths, etc,
adds the report, Is accounted for in part 10y
the failure of Il considerable number to re
port when appointed, to refusal of others
to accept appointments, and in part by the
increase in the force The commissioners
say that while they did not learn what pro-
portion of the appointments are Democrats
and what Republicans still they think it
probable that the great majority of them
are Democrats. This they attribute TO the
preponderance of Democratic over Repub-
lican applicants, induced, no doubt, by the
leellng IN the community thal the chances
of appointment We're vastly in favor of the
Democrats The commissioners deplore
this condition of affairs and say the objects
sought to be accomplished by civil service
legislation viii not be secured until all who
desire shall freely present themselves for
examination, unrcstrained by any feeling
of discrimination, and until appointing off
GERS shall cease to make such discrmina
ton and remove all grounds for the feeling,
which no doubt exists in every city where
there is n classified post-ofiice, except, per
haps, in the city of New York.
Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1887-09-16
The New Wnr ships.

There appear, 10 have been most decid-
ed change Of sentiment says the Boston
journal. in regard to the new war ships
Boston, Atlanta and Chicago, which were
being built by John Roach x Sons when the
present Administration came into power.
The controversy over the Dolphin, the long
delay of the navy department in accepting
her and in settling with the builders the
opinion of Attorney General Garland TO
the effect that the contracts Of the govern
mcnt with the Reaches for the building Of
the larger ships were not valid, the subse-
uuent assignment Of the firm 10 save its
creditors because of this opinion, the CON
contractors under direction of the navy
department, the breaking up Of the great
ship building industry Of the Reaches and
the death Of John Roach in consequence of
the ruin Of his life work by the methods of
the Administration. are matters which are
fresh in the public mind For years the
Democratic and sensational press had been
denouncing him as a corrupter of Congress
and the favorte contractor who imposed
worthless work upon the navy department,
until many people honestly believed that
these charges were true. The Administra-
ton proceeded upon the ground that it was
its duty to suppress the Reaches, and that
is one Of the dutie, which it has discharged.
But now two Of the Roach ships have been
put to the test, and the result is described
10y the Washington special Of the paper
which led in the attack, ON Mr.. Roach as
satisfactory and as surprising eXpecta-
tiuns The steering capacity of the Bos
ton Is characterized as remarkable. and
while she did not make fifteen knots an hour
because of the condition Of her hull, her
engines developed zoo horse power more
than was called for 10y the contracts, and
seventeen knots is predicted under favora-
hle conditions The vindicatioi Of Mr..
Roach comes too late, but it is better late
thnu never
Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1887-09-16
The Rockies. and Cruel seIrridse.

The official inquiry into the conduct of
Capt Sefridge of the United States man
of war Omaha, in ordering target practice
OF the Japanese island of lkeshima, is con
cluded in Japan, and the evidence shows
astounding recklessness on the part of the
commander, Not only was he violating an
international regulation in firing shells
within three miles of the japanese coast,
but he did not use even ordinary precaution
in setting his target. When his attention
was called to certain Japanese small boats
in the line Of his fire he replied, They will
get out of the way quickly when my shells
begin falling amcng them The natives
swear that pieces of shell landed in "a neigh
boring village. The four japanese killed
and the seven wounded by Selfridge's shells
will have good suit for damages against
our government. The father and mother
of one young man killed have since gone
insane over grief at their loss. Selfridge
sailed away knowing that several unex-
ploded shells had landed on the island.